Indiana State University Newsroom

Hines, President’s Medal recipients honored

February 10, 2017

Indiana State University presented the President's Medal for Leadership, Scholarship and Service and the Hines Memorial Medal to two students who graduated in December.

Zachary Wittmann of Dubois, Ind., received Indiana State's President's Medal, which is awarded to a junior or senior who has demonstrated a passion for service, leadership and academic excellence and has made community service an integral part of his or her college experience.

The Hines Medal was awarded to Kelsi Walls of Bridgeport, Ill. The medal, which goes to students with the highest cumulative grade point average during their pursuit of a bachelor's degree, is named for Linnaeus Hines was the university's fourth president and served two terms as Indiana superintendent of public instruction.

During his time at State, Witmann was involved in many activities, which he says "helped make campus very small by getting to know so many people." He was a member and later an officer of Pi Kappa Alpha Fraternity and Alpha Kappa Psi business fraternity, a Student Government Association senator as well as serving as director of finance in the executive branch. Witmann also worked as a as a supplemental instructor economics.

Witmann is starting a career with Naval Surface Warfare Center at Crane Naval Base as a Financial Management Analyst.

"Receiving the President's Medal for Leadership, Scholarship and Service was the perfect cap to the end of my time at State," Witmann said. "This honor was the result of a lot of dedication to the school and organizations. With so many outstanding students that could have been chosen, I am humbled to be the recipient."

As a student, Walls served on the board of directors for the Colleagues Helping Implement Lifelong Learning organization. Through CHILL, she participated in numerous community service events and presented work at local, state and national conferences for future educators. She was also a member of the National Society of Collegiate Scholars organization and was a recipient of the Outstanding Senior Award and the Distinguished Student Assistant award.

Upon graduation, Walls accepted a position at South Vermillion High School as a full-time math teacher. In the coming years, she plans to return to school to further her education.

"Indiana State University taught me that when life gets hard, and you're not sure which direction to go, take the leap out of your comfort zone. You may fall flat on your face a few times, but it will be incredibly beautiful when you finally soar," Walls said.